Chapter 21: Team Tonbo
Hokage's Office.
"These are good sprouts. Do you have the confidence to nurture them into fine talent?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked as he saw Tonbo Tobitake put away the files.
"Absolutely," Tonbo said firmly.
At the same time, he could tell from those words that this year's graduates truly lacked top-tier talent. Looking back at his own graduation class—Guy, Kakashi, Obito, Hayama Shiragumo, Genma, Kurenai, Asuma, and so on—too many had become Jonin. In this class, even Iruka was considered "excellent"!
There was no denying Iruka's future teaching ability was superb, but as a current student, being rated "excellent" felt a bit like a lack of better options.
"Mm. Go on then. The students are likely getting impatient," Hiruzen said.
"Yes, Lord Hokage." Tonbo withdrew from the Hokage's office.
"Lord Hokage, isn't Tonbo a bit young to be a lead teacher?" a secretary nearby asked.
Hiruzen replied, "One must possess the ability to lead a team to become a Chunin; that is Konoha's regulation. He is a Jonin now. Do not doubt yourself."
"Understood," the secretary replied.
Ninja Academy.
"I wonder who our lead teacher will be?" Mibu Shinobu asked his teammates expectantly. With his head wrapped up and his young age, he looked quite shifty.
"It would be great if we could have Lord Homura as our captain," Togetake Tetusen said, spinning a shuriken incessantly in her hand. Mitokado Homura was Konoha's weapon master and had always been her idol; she hoped to learn more advanced tool manipulation from him.
Iruka remained quiet, staring ahead as if in a daze. If Papa hadn't died, would he be the one leading the team? He didn't snap out of his thoughts until his two teammates nudged him. "As long as I can learn something, it's fine," Iruka smiled. After the Third's comfort, he was no longer immersed in grief. For over a year, he had studied hard and found a new dream: becoming a teacher. However, before that, he had to learn more ninja knowledge and dedicate himself to the work; one cannot teach well without having walked the path of a ninja—or so the Third said.
Tap, tap!
Hearing footsteps, the three immediately turned their expectant eyes toward the classroom door. Who would it be?
A young man wearing a ninja flak jacket walked in, hands in his pockets. His head was completely wrapped in bandages, and his Konoha forehead protector was tied over his eyes.
"Iruka Umino, Togetake Tetusen, Mibu Shinobu." Tonbo spoke.
"Present!" The three answered in unison.
"I am your captain, Tonbo Tobitake. Until Lord Hokage issues further orders, I will be your captain. Are you prepared to be ninjas?"
"We are!"
"Very well. Tomorrow morning, meet at Training Ground 98. Don't eat too much; I'll treat you to something delicious. Now, dismissed. Go back and rest. Starting tomorrow, you won't have much free time." Tonbo issued the command.
Poof!
After speaking, his hands wove signs, and he vanished instantly before them.
"So cool! He disappeared instantly!" Mibu Shinobu praised.
Togetake Tetusen added, "Was that some kind of Body Flicker?"
"No, that was a Shadow Clone. A high-level jutsu usually only Jonin master," Iruka analyzed.
"Eh? We actually have a Jonin leading us?" Mibu Shinobu said excitedly.
"I don't know if you noticed, but our captain seems really young!" Tetusen noted. Since Tonbo's face was wrapped in bandages, leaving only his chin and nose visible, it was hard to judge.
"We'll find out tomorrow."
Konoha Main Street.
"Before I knew it, I'm already becoming a captain. I've worked in the Analysis Team but never personally led a proper squad." Tonbo stretched his limbs. Considering he would start leading the team tomorrow, he figured he should go back and prepare.
He didn't share the same interests as the Third or Kakashi—he wasn't going to play some "bell-snatching" game. He simply planned to test their true abilities and then decide on a teaching plan. As a captain, he had to show some strength to earn the basic trust of the three little ones.
"Speaking of which, that guy Ebisu really has a gift. He's only been a Chunin for a few months, and his teaching ability is soaring." Mentioning teaching brought the future "Elite Tutor" to mind. Recently, Ebisu had started working at the Academy and seemed to be doing quite well.
The feeling of watching Konoha's future core grow bit by bit wasn't bad. Without realizing it, he had walked back to Ichiraku Ramen.
A rose woven from palm leaves appeared in his hand. With a sunny smile, he walked inside. "Ayame, look what I brought you today—a hand-woven rose."
However, the moment he walked in, he froze in embarrassment. Two pairs of eyes turned to look at him.
"Yossh! Truly youthful! Tonbo has found true love!" Guy gave him a thumbs-up, his teeth flashing with a blinding glint.
Kakashi: "Impressive."
Ayame, busy in the back, saw this and chuckled. She took the rose and placed it in a decorative vase nearby, which already held several other lifelike woven flowers.
"Haha... what are you two doing here?" Tonbo asked. Guy was now a Special Jonin and Kakashi was a Jonin. In these difficult times for Konoha, they actually had free time.
Guy pointed at Kakashi. "Kakashi just got back from a mission in the Land of Snow. I just finished one too, so we're grabbing a meal."
Kakashi nodded.
"The Land of Snow, huh? That's far. I heard it's beautiful and covered in snow year-round. Did you bring back any souvenirs?" Hearing about the Land of Snow, Tonbo realized the movie plotlines existed here too. He wondered if Naruto would ever go there. That place had chakra technology; he wondered if Kakashi had snagged any.
"The Daimyo there was replaced, and I almost died. Don't talk about souvenirs—they almost turned me into a local specialty," Kakashi said helplessly.
"Oh? The Land of Snow is just a small country. They almost took you out?"
"Don't underestimate any enemy. They have chakra-amplifying devices that significantly boost a ninja's strength. Plus, their whole crew uses Ice Style. The Snow Ninja are quite strong!"
"Enough about that," Kakashi countered. "What about you? Still working diligently in the Analysis Team?"
"Don't remind me. I just got a mission. Starting tomorrow, I have to lead a team—the 'Baby Class' fresh out of the Academy." Tonbo sat down and began to slurp the ramen Ayame brought over.
"Haha! What a description! But we all came from a baby class. Thinking about it gets me a bit excited!" Guy laughed boisterously.
...Don't group me in with you. I wasn't like that, Kakashi thought to himself.
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